Resilient coasting sled



March 7, 1950 v G. o. FORSETH 2, 9

- RESILIENT COASTING SLED Filed April 10, 15946 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 F76. .3 v //wE/v7'o,e

GEORGE O. FOR6E7'h' ATT RNEYs March 7, 1950 G. o. FORSETH 2,499,639

' RESILIENT COASTING 'SLED 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 10, 1946 'AVVENTOE 650E615 C2Fo26ETH ATTORNEY;

Patented Mar. 7, 1950 UNITED: "RATE-N T OF EF I C E 1 2,499,639 it'iisirirn'ni:"CoAsTINGsnED George O. ?F 0'rsth', Minneapolis,z-Minn. Application April 10, 1946, Serial No.- 661,115

This invention relates ft'o new j. useful improvements in sledsyan'd' indre "particularly'to" coasting sleds of thefieitiblewu'nner "type wherein flexing of the runners is utilized to secure'a steering effectof'theslem An important obje' t "ofjlth'e present firiyention resides in the generalfconstriictmn ofasled'conivide resilient having 1y connecting 'theinfto the d arms cooperate to p'rovid'a rsi'liehtisl'ipportfor the deck supportingfframe'; H J I A further "object is to prdvide"a sledcompris ing a rectangular seat'or de'ck supp'orting frame 1 of tubular stock provided'at"itsi'front end with forwardly extending portib'ns;' and' e'a ch' runner silient tubular stock, *'each havin 'fone [end bent upwardly and -rearwar'd1y' "to' provi'dethev front ends "of the runners, and the "rearwardlyextend ing portions of "the "from; ends of irs'aidfru'nners having means fonpivo tally connecting them :to

the forwardly entending portions ofjthe deck s1ip= porting frame-and the-re'aren free ends loosely connected to th'e intermediate portions of the runners, therebytoprovide, in

effect, semi-ellipticl'spr ings having their intermediate portions-pi-yotallyconnectedtothe deck- I supportingcframe, whereby said spring arms 00-' operate to provide a resilient mounting for the deck, to cushion shocks andrr'ender'the sled more comfortable to ride-on.

A further object is :to provide a sled haying a deck-supporting 'fra'me' constructed Pof-steel tu'bstructedof steeltubinghajvingsufliient resiliency ur oses and each runner being "novices at 'its' rear end with a forwardly extending resilient arr'n liaiiingarnovable co'nnectionwith'th'e deck supporting framwat a location- "spacedwell' for;

wardly or tlre'rearfendbf said fr me; whereby, the rear overhanging pdrtidnvbf "tfie decldrnay* K I H ortioniof each of said runners 'beirigbent:upwardly, 'forw'ardlyiand downwardly, to"provide resilient'arms having their 9 Claims (01. zen-#221 flex under a load 'to thereby cooperate withthe 1 resilient arms to absorb shocks, V I

ners are niadeQof-a lig htgaiigefr tegrally formed therewith f orwfardlt"ent'e'iidirig resilient arm, which armsfha jbhdlrfolwa lfdllfre ends movably connected't V heyde ck supporting frame, and complemental fesilient armseac'hhaying "one end, secured to ith le intermediate fpqre vq al rQ e t m .7 he ew t P h fre spective forwardly extending resilient arms; and the "free ends of ."ach pair" Said ms d i Q 1% 9?*q bu th 5P between each pair of said "arms being such that when the arms of each pair of arms are subjected to "an overload, the adjiacent' ends thereof l e ne" no h ;ih' eb iwb i i t -ve r flexing of the arms so thatf'theyare not'like'ly" tobecome damaged whenocca'sidnally subjected to'an overload;

Other *objects of 'the finvjeiition'freside in'f tl'rie novel construction of the rear-"portions o f' th'e" runners, whereby they prctiaea springmounting -for the deck portion of the sled; in the noyel means {provided for-limitingfieking of the spring arms' of the runners under summarized-s, there:

by to prevent ov'erfielging thereof; in the proyision of a s1ed*'compri's'ing flexiblerunners and having means atits -forwar'd end "for m nual y flexing the runners to steer thes'ld -in its coarse; inthe provisionof-a-sled'inwhich'tlie dec porting frame and runnersarejmade of tubing, the deck-suspbrting-name being asa second unit, ancients-bei g ncorporate in the construction of said units-"whe'reby'they may be quickly and inexpensively "ass'e'rnlb'ld to proviaean 'exce'eamgi strong and durable g ee which is light iii-weight; and in which the seat a portion is resiliencysupported-en the runners to cushion shocks and the" like when the sld is in use; and in'the provisionoffleinbl'e runnersles of the steerable type which is'natifa nd attracti le' in appe'aranceQand may be manufactured in quantity production at low cost."

other e t b i e in e n w l "e veer 13 the following description and'the accompanying'J drawings and win-hemmed out in the"annexeci:

claims.

made as one unit, and the runner section beir'rg""made- In the accompanying drawings there has been disclosed a structure designed to carry out the various objects of the invention, but it is to be understood that the invention is not confined to the exact features shown, as various changes may be made within the scope of the claims which follow.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a plan view showing the means provided at the forward end of the sled for flexing the runners;

Figure 2 is a side view of the sled shown in Figure 1, showing the resilient mounting of the rear end portion of the deck-supporting frame;

Figure 3 is a front view of the sled shown in Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a crosssectional view substantially on the line 4--4 of Figure 2;

Figure 5 is an enlarged detail view showing the resilient mounting of the rear end portion of the deck-supporting frame, and showing the resilient semi-elliptic spring arms in their normal positions;

Figure 6 is a view similar to Figure 5 showing the resilient arms as when flexed under a load, the dotted lines indicating the maximum flexing of the arms as when subjected to an overload;

Figure 7 is an enlarged detail sectional view on the line 11 of Figure 2;

Figure 3 is an enlarged detail sectional view substantially on the line 8-8 of Figure 1;

Figure 9 is a view showing the front end of a slad wherein the connecting means between the front ends of the two runners is somewhat differently constructed from the form shown in Figure 3;

Figure 10 is a view showing a modified construction of the connections between the front ends of the resilient arms and their respective runners;

Figure 11 is a sectional view on the line I l-I l of FigurelO;

Figure 12 is a View showing a sled wherein each runner is provided with two co-acting resilient arms for resiliently mounting the deck-supporting frame on the runners;

Figure 13 is a view similar to Figure 12 but showing the position of the resilient arms when the sled is under maximum load;

Figure 14 is an enlarged detail sectional view on the line I4I4 of Figure 12;

Figure 15 is a view showing another method of movably connecting the front ends of the resilient arms to the deck-supporting frame, wherein a suitable spring is interposed between the adjacent ends of each pair of arms for constantly urging the arm ends apart;

Figure 16 is a view corresponding to Figure 15, but showing the means for preventing overflexing of the arms, when the sled is subjected to an overload; and

Figure 17 is a detail sectional view on the line I'I-I1 of Figure 16.

In the selected embodiment of the invention herein disclosed, there is illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, a sled comprising a substantially rectangular deck-supporting frame, generally designated by the numeral 2, comprising side frame members 3 and 4, a rear arcuately formed cross member 5 and a front cross member 6 disposed in opposed relation to the rear cross member 5. The frame 2 is preferably formed with forwardly extending terminals 9 and I I, as shown in Figure 2, which extensions may be continuations of the tubular side frame members 3 and 4 of the frame 2.

Suitable cross members I2, I3 and I4 have their ends suitably secured to the side frame members 3 and 4, as by welding, and provide supports for a plurality of slats I5, which cooperate to provide the usual deck or seat ID of the sled.

The side members 3 and 4 of the frame 2 may be made of a single piece of light steel tubing bent, as shown in Figure 1, and the front cross member 6 has its ends suitably welded to the side frame members 3 and 4, as will be understood. The cross members I2, I3 and I4 are preferably secured to the lower portions of the side frame members 3 and 4, as best shown in Figure 4, whereby when the deck slats I5 are secured thereto, they will be disposed slightly below the uppermost portions of the side frame members 3 and 4 and the cross members 5 and 6, as will be noted by reference to Figure 4. It will also be noted by reference to this figure that the seat portion of the sled is slightly concave, or downwardly curved transversely of the sled, and that the rearmost end of the deck I0 may also be slightly downwardly inclined, as indicated in Figures 5 and 6.

An important feature of the invention resides in the novel construction of the sled runners, whereby they provide the utmost in strength and rigidity and yet afford free flexing for guiding the sled in its course, and also whereby the deck-supporting frame 2 is resiliently supported on the runners.

As best shown in Figure 2, each runner I6 is formed from a single piece of steel tubing having one end bent upwardly and rearwardly to provide the front of the runner. Each runner is formed with a horizontal rearwardly extending portion II. The portions II have their term nals pivotally secured to the forwardly extending portions II of the frame 2, preferablv by means of ball-and-socket joints, such as indicated by the numeral I8 in Figure 8. The universal connections I8 are best shown in Figure 8, and each comprises a ball I9 received in a socket member 2| suitably secured in the end of one of the rearward extensions H of the front end of one of the runners. Each socket member is shown provided with a plug 23, which may readily be inserted into the ends of their respective extensions I I and secured therein by suitable means, not shown. Each ball element I9 is simi arly provided with a plug 24 suitably seated in the adiacent end of its respective forward extension II of the deck-supporting frame 2. By thus con necting the front ends of the runners to the frame 2, the lower ground engaging portions thereof may be freely flexed, as will subsequently be de scribed.

Another important feature of the invention resides in the resilient mounting of the deck IIJ on the runners. To thus resiliently support the deck I0 upon the runners, each runner is shown provided at its rear end with a forwardly extending arm 25 having its intermediate portion pivotally connected to its respective side member of the frame 2 by means of a pivot 26. received in aligned apertures provided in interlocking lugs 21 and 28 provided, respectively, on the frame members 3 and 4 and the resilient arms 25 of the runners. In Figures 2 and 6, the lugs 28 are shown bifurcated to provide increased strength.

Each spring arm 25 is upwardly arched, as best shown in Figure 6, and has its front end bent downwardly, to provide a short vertical section 29 provided with a forwardly extending finest- '31 fe'deive'd 'in' a box lilebiaelit 32 'securedto i ts respeb'tivia unnrclfi y sucn means as welding;- The fing' er's 3 l of the resilient arms are guided in their vertical-:movements by the spaced side walls of the bracket'*-32, and the I 5 spacingbetwn the tbp wa11s'= of the-brackets '32 and 'their respeotive runners lirnits':" the "vertical flexing inovemntbf the free ends-of said' arms, as "will be' 'clearlyunderstood -by reference to 1 Figures" '5, "6 'and 'l. 10

In Figure 5 the resilient arm 25"1'5 shown in its norihal position,- -wl'1erelc'iy'-- the finger 31 "is abuttingly engaged with the =top 'wall or the bracket =32] When a Ioad i's -imposed iiponthedeck 6f the shed, the arms 2'5 are fieXedfl0Wri wardiy, I as indie'ated by thedotted line's in :Figure 5, whereby s'ai d ar'm's Willabserb "shocksandj bits im arted to the runners;'when'the sl d is inuse.

Should the arm's-25 be -subjected to an over load, the downwardl -y -beht end 1 portions 29 -'0f the spring arms "Will e'iigiage "their resp eetive neis $6,- as'shown i'n Figu're 6, and-if the' loa" excessive, the arched portions of the arms may be depressed to the dotted line pbsitie'n} indicated bythe nu'rnral' fl ih Figure W mediateportiohs ofthe spring stantiallythe iifiositidn "irf icat bump while speedii'iig down tubular erbss members'tll are -mtei pbsedbetween H ind-idatedfaiz 5 Figures =10 and ll illustrate ai slightly modified construction whereinthe frdfit erfdj of eah te silient arm z5 is shewn provided with a forked" member'BGfwhich membersare"'pivota11y-cen=-'- neotedtoupfight lugs 35 provided-6n therurine'r's I 6: The fo'rked members 36- and fldgsh5 *are apertured 'to recei-ve coupling 3 preferably "secured to the -'forled In bers""36 by such :means as iive'tin'g over' the *ends thereon as indicated at 39"and- 4'l -i'n Figu'r e 11: T

The upright lugs-=35secured to trie -runners 1 6 are-slotted; as indicated at' fl 'in Figure 10,336 receive the couplingipiris' 38? The coupl'inglpins 38 mounted' in' th'e coupling membeis fifi "araso related to the s1dts '42 -that when "the resilient" Y arms 25' are 'in their-normal"unloaded positions as shown in Figure' 5, th'ecoupling pins -ar en gaged with the 'right 'hand ends b'f the' slots '42 when viewed as shoWn-imFigure 10; Thus; the sledis subjected to a 'load 'arid 'th'eresilient arms 25 are flexed; "as shown; fo'r exan'rplepin" tending arms 4'4 "are forine'd -from tubular stock and-have their iorw'ard end's suitably secured to the-intermediate.lportion of the-runners I6 by such means as -wlding, as"'indidated alt-' Figure 1-2.- The fre e 1 ends 0f the resilient arms 43 and 44 are cor inected to the side members '3 and f 4 'of the up'per deck-supporting fram'e 2 by I suitable link-s 46 which have their -1o\2verends pivotally connectd to *the arms and their "upper ends'tesuitameiugs 41 sedure'd t0 the side frame me'mliers' i and 4 0i the f'rar'rie 2,-'as"-'wi1l be'clea'rly understeod lay-reference "to Figures '12, 13' and 14.

The spacing betweenlower 'e'nds of each pair of -th' i links '46 of the resilienfiarms 43 and 44 is such'that the'y will contact each other before the-resilient arms oan' be flexed beyond theirsafe load carry'ing" capacity, as shownin l igure-'13.

Suitable tie rods 38 are interposed between the thereby to suitably 'brace the runnersfwhreby they fii'ay resi'st lateral strains imposed'theredn When" the 'sled' i's in use,- "and 'partiCul'arIy' when Fignres 15and' 16 disclose another modified construction wherein 'the resilint arms "43 and 44 of "eaeh such pair of a'r-ms are's'hbwn provided with ball-shaped terminals 48;received in tubular as i lldir'ig as inditiate'd at dll mi -121M617; E'ah" guide-49 has itsbottom and end walls suitably miners-"48 -to their res'p'etivesprih am ne 43 and Mi {The pliis 5! ''may be inserted into the ends of eir r'espeenve tubuiar arr ri's end 'wel'ded A suitable s rin '52 is "provided in each 'guide "compress, thereby eooperatinQ'with the arms "43- and 4 4"t0 'iesi-liei'it1ysupport the load; Should anj overload 'be iniposedon thesled, the inner ends "or the plugs sawmenga'ge ane another, as

sheivi'i'in Figure lfi'. thereby preventing overflexing of the resilient arms and thus 1: rotecti1"1g tiiin'ag'ainstdai'nage as a result of overloads.

By reference to-Fignre 2, it will be noted that the pi-vdtalconnection between the deck-support ing frame-z andthe-resilient arr'n'sof the run- 'ners 'isspaoed well forwardly of "the rear en'tl oi the frame 2, whereby the overhanging end' of the deck may flex to some extent in addition to thflexing of the resilie'ntarms' of the run-' hers. The sprin'gmounting 'of the frame 2 on th'e'runners thus provides a very 'easyand smdoth riding sledfas all shocks and 'jolts are absorbed by-the' spring arms andthe flexibility of the rear portion ofthedeelasupporting frame) The cross me'n'ib'ers30 "betweenthe resilientarms of the runners securely tie together the'spaced resilient arms of the two runners, whereby the' runners are Well bra'cedsothat the runners al'e i'iot' likely to become dist'cii ted or'eolla'pse when "thesle'd is roiind-ing' sharp curvesat high s eed; The cross a members-3ll afe preferably-ooiistflititd brittle 7 same tubular material from which the runners are formed, so that they may flex to some degree when side strains are imposed upon the runners.

Means is also provided for steering the sled when coasting downhill and is shown comprising a suitable handle bar 54 provided with suitable hand grips 55, as best shown in Figures 1 and 3. The handle bar is secured to a strap-like member 56 having its rear end pivotally connected to the front cross bar 6 of the deck-supporting frame 2. The front end of the member 56 is pivotally connected to a cross frame member, generally designated by the numeral 51. The member 51 may be formed from sheet metal, and is preferably shaped as shown in Figure 3. Its end portions may be provided with elongated tubular guides 58 adapted to receive pivot bolts 59, the end portions of which are received in vertically spaced apertured lugs 6i and 52, the upper lugs 6| being shown secured to the upper rearward extensions I! of the front ends of the runners, and the lower lugs 62 being secured to suitable gusset plates 63, fitted into and secured to the front ends of the runners, as best shown in Figure 2, thereby providing a very rugged construction which, at the same time, is very light in weight. The inclusion of the gusset plates 63 in the front ends of the runners greatly strengthens the runners, as will be understood.

To guide the sled, the handle bar may be swung from its normal full-line position, shown in Figure 1. to the dotted line position shown therein, whereby the runners l6 are flexed to the left to guide the sled in that general direction. The runners flex substantially the full length thereof, as indicated by the dotted lines in Figure 1, which is highly desirable. When the front ends of the runners are thus flexed to either side, the upper rearwardly extending horizontal portions thereof pivot about the ball-and-socket joints [8, such joints permitting free flexing of the runners in either direction, whereby the sled may readily and conveniently be guided in its course without effort.

In Figure 9, there is shown a construction wherein a skeleton-like cross member, generally designated by the numeral 64, is provided in lieu of the cross member 51, shown in Figure 3. The cross member illustrated in Figure 9 is shown comprising an upper horizontal member 65 having its terminals pivotally connected to the inwardly directed lugs 6! provided on the runners l6, and to the intermediate portion of which the steering bar 56 is connected, as will be understood. Diagonal braces 66 have their inner upper ends secured to the upper horizontal member 55, as by welding, and their opposite ends are pivoted to the lugs 62 of the runners, thereby to provide a structural frame-like device having adequate strength to support the front ends of the runners.

The novel sled herein disclosed readily lends itself for manufacture in quantity production at small cost. In the manufacture thereof, the upper rectangular deck-supporting frame 2 may be formed as a unit, the side frame members 3 and 4 and the rear cross member 5 being made from a single piece of tubing, and the front cross member 6 having its end portions suitably welded to the side members 3 and 4 to provide a rigid frame structure.

As hereinbefore stated, each runner, including its spring arms or 43, is formed from a single piece of resilient steel tubing, and the cross braces have their-ends welded to the spring arms,

8 whereby the two-runners and spring arms may be assembled as a unit. The steering apparatus, including the handle bar 54 and cross frame member 57, may also be assembled as a unit, as will be understood.

Thus, when the three main parts of the sled have been assembled as three individual units, such units may readily and quickly be secured together to complete the formation of the sled by the provision of suitable assembling jigs and tools, well known in the art.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that I have accomplished at least the principal objects of my invention, and it will be also be apparent to those skilled in the art that the embodiments herein described may be variously changed and modified without departing from the spirit of the invention, and that the invention is capable of uses and has advantages not herein specifically described; hence it will be appreciated that the herein disclosed embodiments are illustrative only, and that my invention is not limited thereto.

What I claim is:

1. A sled comprising an upper rectangular deck-supporting frame, a pair of spaced tubular runners provided at their forward ends with rearwardly extending portions having their terminals connected to the front end of the decksupporting frame by ball-and-socket joints, and each of said runners being provided at its rear portion with a pair of opposed resilient arms having their free ends pivotally connected to the deck-supporting frame, thereby to resiliently support the deck upon the runners.

2. A ,sled comprising an upper rectangular deck-supporting frame, a pair of spaced tubular runners provided attheir forward ends with rearwardly extending portions having their terminals pivotally connected to the front end of the deck-supporting frame, each of said runners being provided at its rear portion with a pair of opposed resilient arms having their free ends pivotally connected to the deck-supporting frame, thereby to resiliently support the deck upon the runners, and means for limiting flexing of said resilient arms when subjected to an overload.

3. A sled comprising an upper rectangular deck-supporting frame of steel tubing, a pair of spaced tubular runners provided at their forward ends with rearwardly extending portions having their terminals movably connected to the front end of the deck-supporting frame, each of said runners being provided at its rear portion with a pair of opposed resilient arms, the free ends of each pair of said resilient arms being disposed in proximity to each other and having means for movably connecting them to the decksupporting frame, and means operatively connected to the adjacently disposed free ends of each pair of said arms for limiting flexing movement thereof under a load.

4. A sled comprising an upper rectangular deck-supporting frame of steel tubing, a pair of spaced tubular runners having means at their forward end portions for pivotally connecting them to the front end of the deck-supporting frame, each of said runners being provided at its rear portion with a pair of opposed resilient arms having their free ends disposed adjacent to one another, tubular guides secured to the side members of the deck-supporting frame for operatively connecting the free ends of said resilient arms to said frame, and spring elements interposed between the adjacent ends of each pair of said arms 9 for constantly urging them apart and cooperating therewith to resiliently support a load carried on the sled.

5. A sled comprising an upper rectangular deck-supporting frame of steel tubing, a pair of spaced tubular runners having means at their forward end portions for pivotally connecting them to the front end of the deck-supporting frame, each of said runners being provided at its rear portion with a pair of opposed resilient arms having their free ends disposed adjacent to one another, tubular guides secured to the side members of the deck-supporting frame for operatively connecting the free ends of said resilient arms to said frame, spring elements interposed between the adjacent ends of each pair of said arms for constantly urging them apart and 00- operating therewith to resiliently support a load carried on the sled, and means in each of said guides for limiting movement of the arm terminals mounted therein, towards one another, thereby to prevent overflexing of said arms when subjected to an overload.

6. A sled comprising an upper rectangular deck-supporting frame of tubular steel, a pair of spaced flexible tubular runners having means at their forward end portions for pivotally connecting them to the front end of the deck-supporting frame, each of said runners being provided at its rear portion with a pair of opposed resilient arms having their free ends disposed adjacent to one another, means movably connecting the adjacent ends of each pair of said arms to the deck-supporting frame, means for limiting flexing of said arms when subjected to an overload, and steering means at the front end of the sled whereby said runners may be flexed substantially the full length thereof, thereby to guide the sled in its traveling movement.

'7. A sled comprising an upper rectangular deck-supporting frame of tubular steel, a pair of spaced flexible tubular runners, ball-andsocket joints for connecting the runners to the front end of the deck-supporting frame, each of said runners being provided at its rear portion with a forwardly directed integral resilient arm, a second resilient arm secured to the intermediate portion of each runner and having its free end rearwardly directed and disposed in proximity to the free end of its complemental forwardly directed arm, means movably connecting the free ends of each pair of said arms to the deck-supporting frame for limiting flexing of said arms when subjected to an overload, and steering means at the front end of the sled whereby said 55 runners may be flexed substantially the full 10 length thereof, thereby to guide the sled in its traveling movement.

8. In a sled of the class described, a unitary rectangular metallic deck-supporting frame provided at opposite sides, intermediate the ends thereof, with runner attaching devices, a runner section comprising spaced runners provided with resilient arms having their free ends disposed in close proximity to the midportions of their re-- spective runners, a steering device for flexing the forward ends of the runners to guide the sled, and coupling means secured to said resilient arms and engageable with the runner attaching devices on the deck-supporting frame, thereby to facilitate the operation of securing the arms to the deck-supporting frame.

9. In a sled of the class described, an elongated deck-supporting frame, a pair of spaced flexible metallic runners having rearwardly extending horizontal portions at their forward ends, means movably' connecting said rearwardly extending runner portions to the forward end of the decksupporting frame, the rear end portions of said runners having forwardly extending resilient arms, means pivotally connecting the forward ends of said resilient arms to the deck-supporting frame at points spaced well forwardly of the rear end of the deck-supporting frame, a deck supported within the deck-supporting frame, and a pair of auxiliary resilient arms having their forward ends fixedly secured to the intermediate portions of their respective runners and their rear free ends connected to the side rails of the deck-supporting frame adjacent to said forwardly extending rear runner arms, said auxiliary arms cooperating with the rear forwardly extending runner arms to resiliently support the deck.

GEO. O. FORSETI-I.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

